We are a leisurely 15 minute stroll from the acclaimed Alnwick Garden and magnificent Treehouse, the Duchess of Northumberland's very own project. Alnwick Castle, home to the Duke & Duchess, overlooks the River Aln and The Pastures, its own scenic landscape designed by Capability Brown, and is adjacent to The Alnwick Garden. For the younger generation – or any Harry Potter readers – Alnwick Castle was used in several films as Hogwarts School. It was here in the Outer Bailey of the castle that young Harry learned to fly on a broomstick – these are for sale in the Castle Shop!
Inland there is open countryside. Heading west over the moors leads you to Cragside House and its vast grounds (National Trust), built by Lord Armstrong in the 19th Century and incorporating many original inventions – hydraulic lifts, plunge baths, and, more famously, electric lighting (it was the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity using Joseph Swann bulbs). Wallington Hall and Gardens (National Trust) lies a further 11 miles along the road and beyond that is the magnificent Hadrian's Wall (National Trust & English Heritage), a World Heritage Site.
On the beautiful Northumberland coastline, 4 miles from Alnwick, you will find long sandy beaches as well as rocky shorelines. Further up the coast are the Farne Islands (National Trust) with their Bird Sanctuary and Grey Seals.
Being a border county, there are castles throughout the area: Warkworth (English Heritage), Dunstanburgh (National Trust & English Heritage), spectacular Bamburgh and Lindisfarne (National Trust) on Holy Island where the Lindisfarne Gospels were created.
There are many, many more places of interest to visit in our beautiful and ever-changing countryside, with miles of unspoilt walks amongst the rolling hills of Northumberland.
